Ezetop charges to number one in Deloitte Technology Fast 50

Ezetop, a company which enables people living or working abroad to instantly top up mobile phones of friends and family back home, has achieved top spot in this year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards.

The company, whose services are available from more than 350,000 retail stores in 16 countries, as well as online and on mobile phones, achieved an aggregate growth rate of 6986% over the last five years. The company is also a first time entrant to the Fast 50 awards.

Second place on this year’s ranking was taken by Compliance and Risks – another first time entrant – which provides innovative online tools that deliver the most timely and accurate global regulatory intelligence, achieved this spot with a growth rate of 2886%.

The Fast 50 programme, now in its 13th year in Ireland, ranks the fastest growing technology companies in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Technology Fast 50 awards are an opportunity for businesses to gain recognition for their successes and achievements.

Two companies have also been awarded Rising Star awards. This category recognises younger companies with the fastest growth in turnover over the past three years. FeedHenry Ltd, which provides a cloud mobile application platform that simplifies the development, integration, deployment and management of secure mobile apps for business, represented the Republic of Ireland in this category. The company achieved a growth rate of 2862%. The Northern Ireland winner, with a growth rate of 1618%, was Sixteen South. The company develops, creates and produces children’s television and was also the recipient of this accolade last year.

This year, there are 15 companies from Northern Ireland in the Fast 50 ranking, an increase on last year’s total of 14. There are 8 new entrants to the ranking.

Announcing the winners of the Technology Fast 50 programme, Richard Howard, partner with Deloitte, Dublin, said: "One of the key drivers of this growth has been their ability to capitalise on international markets. Many Irish companies now have an increased focus on international expansion as a way to drive sustainable growth. The indigenous technology sector has been a trailblazer in this regard – some of our most successful technology companies have long been internationalising their IP and reaping the rewards. It’s encouraging to observe that so many of our Fast 50 winning companies are seeking to exploit both local and global markets to their best advantage."

In total, seven counties across the island of Ireland were represented in this year’s listing. Dublin led the pack with 30 companies followed by Antrim with 12; Cork, Limerick and Down on two each; and Derry and Kerry had one each.

The awards took place in the Guinness Storehouse on Friday 16 November. Dr Chris Horn, co-founder and former CEO Iona Technologies, was keynote speaker at the event.